Judge sets date to hear injunction request by New London police chief

New London — A judge in New London this week set a Dec. 9 date for a hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction against Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio by New London Police Chief Margaret Ackley.

The injunction request was made on July 30 by Ackley as part of an ongoing lawsuit against Finizio, the city and city attorney Brian Estep in which she claims a breach of contract. In the injunction request, Ackley claims Finizio usurped her powers as chief and asks a judge to order Finizio to stop “bypassing, isolating, and marginalizing” her.

Finizio suspended Ackley a day after the injunction request was filed and called for an investigation into her conduct as chief, citing allegations she selectively targeted union leaders for discipline, withheld information about the public safety requirements and misrepresented financial information about the department, among a host of other claims.

Judge Leeland J. Cole-Chu, in an order dated Aug. 18, asked that attorneys for all sides meet sometime in October, prior to the hearing on the injunction.

“The parties are ordered to cooperate in arranging mediation of all issues in this case,” Cole-Chu wrote.

New London Deputy Police Chief Peter Reichard is acting chief while Ackley remains on paid leave pending the outcome of an investigation.